Gondola type railway car convertible from closed to open end construction



2 mm RU L Amy 0N U0 0 C D N G. B. WILLARD GONDOLA TYPE RAILWAY CAR FROM CLOSED TO OPEN E Dec. 13,- 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1951 2 mm RU EC 0 mo Dec. 13. 1955 GONDOLA TYPE RAILWAY FROM CLOSED TO OPEN END 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 25, 1951 INVENTORS 66m Mar BY flZaZ/efd WZzZZcwe Dec. 13, 1955 e. B. WILLARD ErAL 2,726,744

GONDOLA TYPE RAILWAY CAR CONVERTIBLE FROM CLOSED TO OPEN END CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 25 1951 George B 1 N V EN T0 R5 WllZami UZw M Dec. 13, 1955 G. B. WILLARD ETAL 2,

GONDOLA TYPE RAILWAY CAR CONVERTIBLE FROM CLOSED TO OPEN END CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 25, 1951 INVENTORS- 6,5 WLZZQI flung? United States Patent GONDOLA TYPE RAILWAY CAR CONVERTIBLE FROM CLOSED TO OPEN END CONSTRUCTION George B. Willard, Winfield, Ill., and Oliver A. Wallace, Wilmington, N. C., assignors to Enterprise Raiiway Equipment Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application July 25, 1951, Serial No. 238,442 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) The invention relates to an improved type of movable end wall for a railway car and is especially concerned with a so called gondola car having a fixed floor and sides and movable end walls which may be removed to allow the use of the car as an open ended carrier for handling long materials, such as structural beams, fabricated constructions, etc., which ordinarily project beyond the ends of the car. The invention is by way of an improvement on the conventional drop end wall now employed and which comprises an end wall mounted to swing on a horizontal axis to either assume a horizontal position on the car floor or movable to a vertical position to function as the end wall of the car body.

The objects of the invention among others are: To provide an end wall which is swingable on a vertically disposed axis whereby the wall may be moved with comparatively small efiort by one man; to provide an end wall pivotally mounted on one of the car sides and to provide a latching and tying means between the said end wall and the opposite side wall of the car; to provide for antifriction supporting means for the swinging edge of the end wall; and to provide for the retention of the end wall in place along the car side wall on which it is mounted when the car is converted to an open ended car.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter following. i

For full comprehension of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical end elevational view of a portion of a railway car showing as much of the car construction as necessary to illustrate the improvement, said view showing the swingable end wall positioned to form the end wall of a gondola car, the latching mechanism at the swinging edge of the wall being omitted and the end wall being broken to conserve space.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the end portion of the car taken along the line 22 of Figure l and showing the end wall by full lines as positioned in Figure 1 and illustrating by conventional dot and dash lines the position of the end wall of the car when said wall is swung to lie adjacent the side wall on which it is pivotally mounted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the end wall as seen in a line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 3A is a detached elevational view of the hinge which is secured to the end wall and supports the same.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the end wall as positioned when the car is converted to an open ended car, said view showing the wall in latched relation to the car side with which it is pivotally associated.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the car side wall and end wall as seen on a line corresponding substantially to a line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the endwall in closed position ad jacentthe swinging edge of the said end wall showing the latching mechanism in latching relation with the adjacent car side wall.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fractional view of the end wall and related structure, illustrated in Figure 6, showing the latching mechanism in released position.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the latching hook seat employed for retaining the end wall in latched position.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the seat shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detached elevational view of one of the toggle links.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the link shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a vertical side elevational view of the' latching bracket on the end wall. 7

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the bracket shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the toggle arm.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the toggle arm shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a fractional front elevational View of the upper portion of the end wall shown in Figure 4 and illustrating the latching mechanism positioned to retain the end wall against the side wall of the car.

Figure 18 is a detached elevational view of the latching hook seat carried by the side wall and shown in Figure 17. V

Figure 19 is a front elevational view of the latching hook seat shown in Figure 18 as viewed from right to left.

In said drawings the car structure is indicated by the center sill it), end sill 11, car side walls shown generally at 12 and 12', floor 13 and transversely extending lower end angle 14. The side walls are reinforced at the top and bottom by beam members as indicated'in Figure '5 at 15 and 16 respectively. The upper beam member 15 preferably consists of two angle shaped members 17 and 18 arranged in reverse relation and welded together at 19 to form a Z shaped beam member. The lower beam member 16 is in the form of an angle having one flange 20 secured to the car side and having the adjacent flange 21 extending inwardly laterally.

The floor 13, which preferably consists of a metal plate, is bent upwardly to present flanges 22 for attachment to the car side walls 12 and 12' and underlying said floor are angle shaped members 23 also attached to the car side walls. The car side walls are reinforced at spaced intervals by side stakes 24 and at the corners of the car by hollow posts 25 and 25'.

The posts 25 and 25 are each preferably formed of a plate bent to a U shape and in cooperation with angle members 26 form four sided enclosures. The post 25 has an entrance 27 at one corner as noted by reference to Figure 2. The sides of the U shape are as indicated at 28, 29 and 30 and adjacent wall 30 the U shape is formed type railway car is provided with a swinging end wan 33. Since they are of similar construction, only one will be described in detail. The end wall 33 preferably consists of a plurality of panels 39, 40 and 41 united into Patented Dec. 13, 1955 Figure 5, and the top and bottom margins andswinging endwall 33 respectively. The bracketsv carried by the post 25 areindicated at'45 and the associated bracket 46 carried by the wall 33 is preferably formed of'a single member, Figures 1 and 3A, extending from the top to bottom ofthe swinging end wall 33 in one piece. The bracket 46 carried by the end wall 33 includes a base portion 47'disposed in the angle. formed by; the body of the end wall 33 and the vertically extending flange 36 and said base portion is secured in place by rivets. 48,.Figure 2. -Projecting fromihe base portion 47 is an extension of the hinge bracket of arcuate form as indicated at 49. which is'formed concentrically with respect to the hinge axis 44 to lie adjacent the flared portion-32.. of. the post 25 throughout the entire range of swinging movement of the end wall 33. A series of hinge lugs 50-is disposed on the concave inner side of the'extension 49 and these are spaced vertically to admit therebetween correspondingly formed lugs 51 formed. on the brackets and the respective lugs 59 and 51 are apertured for the accommodation of a hinge rod 52 whereby theend wall 33 is supported in swinging relation on the sidewall 12. The hinge rod 52 and the en circlinghinge lugs 50 and 51 are preferably located with-:

inithehollow post 25, to allow for unobstructed sweep of the end wall 33 in its transition from the closedpositionshown in Figure 2 to the open position shown in Figure 4. The arcuately shaped extension 49 has its outer surface concentric with the vertical axis 44 of the hinge rod 52' and it extends through sufiicient anguiar distance to maintain tangential'contact with the inner face of the post125 throughout the entire swinging movement-xof the end wall 33.

V The'end wall '33 is arranged to swing through approximately 90 of movement from its position as shown in Figure2tothat shown in Figure 4 and is preferably provided adjacentits swinging edge with an antifriction support in the form of a wheel153, Figure 5, pivotally mounted on an axle 54; The wheel and axle aremounted in a bracket 55 which in turn is secured to the lower portion of the end wall 33.

Atthe upper margin of the end wall 33 adjacent the swinging edge. thereof there is disposed toggle acting latching mechanism, Figures 6 and.7, in the form of a pair of llHkSf56-56, Figures 11 and 12, pivoted at 57 on'a bracket 58, Figures- 13 and 14, rigidly secured to the: endwall; The'pair of links 56 is spaced apart to straddle the end wall 33 and they are extended beyond the latter: to straddle a keeper bracket or hook shaped member 59, Figures'9 and 10, which'is rigidly secured to thecar side 'wallby welding as indicated at 60, Figure 8. Pivotally mounted at 61, Figure 8, between the ex- .tendedportion ofthe links. 56 is atoggle arm 62 which isr'formed' with an arcuately shaped end 63 arranged to seatin a concavei'depression64 formed. in hook member 59. whereby theend'wall 33. and the-car side "12' may be tied togetherbyi the toggle acting mechanism and the end wall 33i8ithllSPOSltlOl'l6dI0 function as a tie member of great strength and provides a structure for maintainingthe car sides12 and 12 in spaced relation. The

' pivotal mounting of" the toggle arm" 62 is elfected by means of. trunnions 65, Figure 12, which are formed integrally with the link 56 and constitute the pivot mountingat 57. and61. 'Ihe'toggle arm 62 is provided with anroperating handle. extension. 66 having-a hollow socket portion.67 forreceiving-an operating bar for eiiectinga tumingmovement ofthe toggle arm 62.

The links 56 and toggle arm 62 are employed for retaining the endwall 33 imposition along the car side wall 12 when the'car is converted to an open ended car. To

this end a keeper bracket or hook shaped member 68, Figures 18 and 19, is mounted on the inner face of the car side wall 12, Figure 17, for cooperation "with the toggle linkage shown in Figures 6 and 7 when the end wall 33 is swung through 90 to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The hook' shaped seat 68 includes a wall portion 69 attached to'the' car side wall12-andan upper hook shaped portion70 spaced outwardly from the attaching wall 69 and corresponding in shape to the depression 64 of the hook member 59 which, it will be recalled, is carried by the car side wall 12"..

A recess 71 is provided in the lower portionoffthe car side wall 12 as indicated in Figures 4 and 5'forzreceiving the antifriction mounting 53"when the end wall 33 is positioned against the car side wall 12 as here shown.

A housing 72 is securedto the outer face of the car side wall 12 to receive the bracket 55 and its associated wheel I 53 and axle 54.

The mounting of the end wall 33 ona pivot to,swing;

on. a verticalaxis enablesrapid conversion of the car from open end to closed end or .vice versa by'oneman with comparatively little effort and with-perfect safety.. 7

There is no possibility'of'the wall-.suddenly-"dropping,as is liable to occur when the wall'is moved from a hori zontal to a vertical position. The retention'ofthe end wall 33 in a vertical position at all. times isof'advantage.

inasmuch as there is not the liability. to damage such astakes place when the wall is flat on-the floor andlading,

is dropped thereon; a

As shown in Figure 8 the toggle arm. 621's swunggin the direction indicated by the arrow 73 to the locking position either with the hook member 59 or the hook member 68. i In the locked position, as illustratedin'Fig ure 6, the toggle arm 62 is swung downwardly into an: 7

over center toggle locked position where a line 74 connect ing thepivot axes 57 and 61 is. located below the center 75 of the arcuate end 63. This toggle locking mechanism securely holds the swinging end wall 33 either.

acrossthe ends of the car side walls 12 and-12 where it secures them in spaced relation and braces the same or in juxtaposition to the side wall 12 where an open. ended car construction is provided.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a railway car having spaced apart side walls and an end wall pivotally mounted adjacent one of .said'walls; to swing on a vertically extending axis to either formthe end wall of the car or lie alongthe side wall .with which it is pivotally related,.a hollow corner post structure for. supporting the pivotal mounting of'the end wall, said pivotal mounting including a pivot extending verticallywithin the confines of the hollow post, said corner post structure having an entrance openingin one. side for. accommodating the end walltherethrough, saidend'wall being formed with a wall portion concentrically related; to the pivotalaxis within said post and adapted toremain inclose adjacency to. the edge of saidentra'nceopening,

throughout the entire swinging movement of the end :wall.v

2. In a railway car having spaced apart side walls andan end wall pivotally mounted adjacentioneof the side walls to swing ona vertical axis to form'either the. end.

wallof the car or assume a position adjacent the. side wall with which it. is pivotally related to for-man open: ended car, a corner post for supporting thepivoted end of the end wall, said postbeing of hollow formation with. a wall of the post having an-entrance' openingadjacent the end wall, hinge brackets having hinge. lugs .for the. pivot disposed within the confines ofthe hollow post and secured thereto, a wall section leading fromthe. end wall through the opening in.the postand .formedwith hinge lugs. disposed in alignment with the. lugsof; the brackets, 21 hingerodextending throughthe'aligned lugs ofthe brackets .and end wall extension,. the .said extensiom of the end wall havingrits outer face extending 'on an: arcuately shaped contour disposed concentrically respect to the pivotal axis of the end wall and adapted to move in close tangential relation to the adjacent edge of the opening of the post, said arcuately shaped face being of sufiicient angular extent to maintain adjacency with the edge of the opening throughout the range of swinging movement of the end wall.

3. In a railway car having spaced apart side walls and a four sided post of hollow construction at the end of one of said side walls and including inner and outer walls extending in the general direction of the side walls and having spaced transversely disposed walls, said inner wall having an entrance opening therein extending substantially for the entire height of the post and an end wall having an extension in the form of a hinge bracket structure extending through the opening of the post, said end wall being pivotally mounted to swing on a vertically disposed axis located within the confines of the hollow post, said end wall being adapted to swing on its pivotal axis to either extend across the end of the car and form the end wall of the car or assume a position longitudinally along the side on which it is pivotally mounted to form an open end car, said wall of the hinge bracket structure being of arcuate shape to present an outer convex face and an inner concave face, said outer convex face being concentrically formed with respect to the hinge axis of the end wall and movable in close adjacency to the proximate side edge of the opening of the post and having suflicient angular extent to follow the said edge of the opening throughout the swinging movement of the end wall from one extreme position to another, hinge lugs carried by the post and hinge bracket structure of the end wall respectively; said respective lugs of the post and end wall being aligned and a hinge rod extending through the aligned lugs, said lugs on the bracket hinge structure extending laterally from the concave surface of the bracket structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,021 Sage Apr. 8, 1902 903,659 Bender Nov. 10, 1908 960,961 Kusterer June 7, 1910 1,635,107 Blum July 5, 1927 1,636,007 Marshall July 19, 1927 1,673,450 Gilpin June 12, 1928 1,696,910 Gilpin Jan. 1, 1929 1,853,658 Briskin Apr. 12, 1932 1,865,223 Tobin et al June 28, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 23 6,792 Great Britain July 16, 1925 

